In These New Times

PressTV

5th April, 2010

Afghan President Hamid karzai says there will be no military operation in the southern province of Kandahar unless the Afghan people support it.

In a meeting with local officials in Kandahar, Karzai promised to consult tribal leaders before any US-led military offensive in the region.

He said any such move would depend on the Afghan people’s full agreement and permission.

This is while US-led alliance prepares to launch its next offensive, dubbed Omid, in Kandahar starting June.

The coalition forces are currently engaged in another major assault in the neighboring Helmand province.

The Marjah offensive, which began on February 13, has been criticized by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and tribal elders due to the high numbers of civilian casualties.

Locals say civilians often fall victim to such military operations.

Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes before and during the operation. Others have been trapped in their homes with little access to food and medicine.

The tribal elders of Helmand want an end to the offensive in the war-weary country, citing Western troops’ disregard for civilian lives as the main reason.

The tensions between the West and Karzai exposed publicly last Thursday, when he accused “foreigners” of perpetrating fraud in the August presidential elections.